Psychologist in the Making
My name is Raya Tous and I am a student at New York City College of Technology (City Tech) the purpose of this paper is that I am reflecting on my major. As of now, I am a Liberal Arts and Arts major. In the future, I plan to transfer from City Tech to attend Brooklyn College where I will major in psychology. Psychology is the study of the human mind and behavior. My goal is to become a counseling psychologist. This is the best career for me, because I want to try and help as many people as I can and advise them on how to deal with their problems. Additionally, this is the best career for me, because I would love to reach out to as many people as I can and help them overcome any disorder. I want to be there for people who think there is no way out of life except for death. Furthermore, this is the best career for me because I love being there for people and showing people that sometimes regardless of what they go through there is always a positive side towards life. In this essay I will explain the career life of a psychologist.
The Next step of my Journey after leaving City Tech
The City Tech Course Catalog of 2013-2014 explains exactly what classes I need and what my learning outcomes will be in the Liberal Arts and Arts major. The Course Catalog explains that the learning outcomes will be “Effective oral and written communication skills, Team work and problem solving skills Foundations in computer and information literacy, with critical thinking skills, for lifelong learning, Improved ability to communicate in a foreign language and fundamental knowledge of the culture of native speakers, Fundamental knowledge of history and Fundamental knowledge of the behavioral and social sciences” (City Tech, 92). While being in the Liberal Arts and Arts at City Tech it introduced me to college. Also, it gave me an option to transfer credits for other schools and other programs. What I wish to do with my education at City Tech is continue it in Brooklyn College. I will enter a bachelor’s degree program for psychology at Brooklyn College since City Tech Doesn’t offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
The Liberal Arts and Arts department
Counseling psychologist is the best career for me, because I want to try and help as many people as I can and advise them on how to deal with problems. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook explains that “counseling psychology advise people on how to deal with their problems” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1). Therapists advise people on how to deal with problems. They help patients understand problems, including issues at home, at the workplace, or in their community. Through counseling, they work with patients to identify their strengths or resources they can use to manage problems. Psychologists must be able to demonstrate patience, because research or treatment of patients may take a long time. They must also be patient when dealing with people who have mental or behavioral disorders. This is also a good career for me because I have a lot of patience.
Next, counseling psychologist is the best career for me because I want to reach out to many people and help them overcome any disorder they are going through. In the journal article “Outcomes of Introduction to the Psychology Major: Careers and Opportunities Course’ by Roscoe, Lauren J. says that “when becoming a psychologist the outcome of it is to know how to deal with patients with many behavioral or personality disorders” (Lauren J, 2). The journal article also mentions that “you must keep patients’ problems in confidence as a psychologist, and patients must be able to trust a psychologists’ expertise in treating sensitive problems” (Lauren J, 4). It also explains that “in order for the psychologist to be able to see an outcome, the psychologist have to treat their patients as their friends and sometimes as their own family members” (Lauren J, 5). These quotes explain that upon becoming a psychologist you will have to be prepared to reach out to your patients and become a friend to them.
Finally, counseling psychology is the best career for me because I love being there for people and showing people that sometimes regardless of what they go through there is always a positive side towards life. In the magazine article “Your journey into Psychology” by Ella Rhodes, she explains that “studying psychology isn’t only for the purpose of a degree and end up sitting on a couch, talking to people all day”. This quote explains that when you become a psychologist it’s going to be hard and complicated because there are some people that are going to come to you and want to commit suicide. This quote also means that becoming a psychologist means that you might be saving many peoples lives. In the New York Times article “Where Mentally Ill Turn” by Charles A. Kroloff, he explains in this article that Psychologists must have strong communication skills because they spend much of their time listening to and speaking with patients. He also states that the mentally ill turn to the psychologists or therapists so they can get some help.
I talked to my advisor in the Liberal Arts and Arts Department of City Tech in room P616 to learn and prepare more about my career. My advisor Dr. Barlow Helped me out to realize when I would be done with my educational life and go onto my career life. Dr. Barlow advised me to go onto my master’s degree. He told me “although it might be hard work it will be all worth it in the end” (Barlow, Interview). He also advised me to finish my bachelor’s degree. When I finish my bachelor’s degree I will have completed 120 credits. Dr.Barlow explained that I will graduate with a degree of psychology by fall semester of 2017 if stay on track with my credits. Dr.Barlow also stated that to graduate in fall semester 2017 I have to at least take 4-5 classes a semester. Dr. Barlow said that I have to maintain a 3.0 gpa or 3.3 gpa. I can finally say that Dr.Barlow helped me a lot in knowing what I should do with my educational life and career life.
Discussing my future with Dr. Barlow
If you are interested in psychology and want to become a psychologist, I say go for it! Always go for what you want to do and not focus on the money. While, The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook states that psychologists with a master’s degree earn around $69,280 per year, but the reward comes from savings someone’s life. Being there for people who need it the most is the best feeling in the world. Just knowing that you can be the reason someone doesn’t commit suicide is heartwarming and beautiful. Regardless of the money if you love being there for people and you want to help people who have psychological disorders then psychology is the major for you. Psychology might not be interesting to many people but to me I find psychology a very interesting and attention grabbing topic because sometimes when we read these articles of how someone pushed another person in front of the train we see them as “wow they’re crazy” but sometimes it’s more than that, what if the person is mentally ill? Wouldn’t you want to help them? Psychology to me is saving a life. I chose my life journey, chose yours.
Work cited
Barlow, Aaron. Personal Interview. 27 Nov. 2014
Kroloff, Charles A. “Where Mentally Ill Turn”. New York Times. 29 Nov 2014. Web. 5 Dec 2014
Lauren J, Roscoe. ”Outcomes of Introduction to the Psychology Major: Careers and opportunities course.” Web. 30 Nov 2014
New York City College of Technology. (City Tech). Course Catalog 2013-2014.2014. PDF. 30 Nov 2014
Rhodes, Ella. “Your Journey Into Psychology”. British Psychological Society. 9 Sept 2009.Web. 30 Nov 2014
United States, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Dept of Labor. 8 Jan 2014. Web. 30 Nov 2014
Tous, Raya “Discussing my future with Dr. Barlow”. Flickr. 5 Dec 2014
Tous, Raya “The Liberal Arts and Arts department”. Flickr. 5 Dec 2014
Tous, Raya “The Next step of my Journey after leaving City Tech”. Flickr. 5 Dec 2014
